Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-01-19


secure proper knowledge Of their value
certainty of boundary, necessary to avoid
perpleXing land disputes-the WORST OF all
litigation-the distressing effects of which
already. They should not in any
event be disposed of in large
masses to individuals, thus leaving
to them the time and manner Of settle
ment, but should be sold under one uni.
form plan, by clear, simple aud positive
terms, in small bodies TO actual settlers
only, ON known and moderate terms, long
time, and at low rate of interest, so as t.
extend the blessing of cheap land to the
largest number. they should be con,
trolied by single authority, by restoring
the constitutional functions Of the COM
missioner of the land office, whose re.
sponsibiity being immediate, undi.
dom and discretion would enable him,
with sufficient machinery st his disposal,
to keep himself informed of the situation,
and to execute the powers granted him
by law, to conduct these business inter
ests upon uniform and prudent princi,
pies.
IL 10 IOl tLG iSidtuIS, III us WIeuOiD,
to determine what laws are appropriate,
and its decision is binding upon every
other department.
Ina constitutional government, like ours,
where the people have once delegated
their powers to represe natives as their
agents, these Representatives cannot del
egate the power entrusted to them to
others not selected by the people for that
J ~
stitutiOnal authority to delegate TO q
board any portion of their Legislative
functions, they have the authority to re-
nit to them the entire mass Of their legis-
latlve power. Aud the converse of the
proposition must be equally true, that if
they nave no authority to delegate their
whole power, they are, in like manner,
powerless to delegate any portion OF 1t,
unless the authority TO so delegate is ex-
pressiy conferred by the constitution.
And in this connection it should be borne
IN mind that the constitution forbidS any
person, or collection of persons being of
one Of these departments, from the exer-
else of any power properly attached to
either of the others, except in instances
expressly sanctioned.
1t IS believed that under judicious
lease system, which will guarantee full
prote ction to the lease holder against en-
croachlnent, such portions of these lands
US are not suitable for agricultural pur-
poses, and susceptible of cultivation, or
in demand for settlement can be made
to contribute their quota of rev.
enue to the support of the interests to
which they were dedicated. The people
are certainly not real ENG the benefits ill.,
tended by these muniticent landed dOna-
tons, and the pubic school system espe-
Cially is becoming gricyous burden to
item. The injustice OF any proceedings
which enable corporations, largely COM
posed of nOn-residents, VINO derive great
profits from the products of their herds,
while contributing but small pittance
to the support OF our government, to ar
rogate to themselves the free use of these
lands, needs no argument.
Every citZ' in the state has valua-
BILE and appreCiabe interest in these spe-
Cisl donations, as well as in uphUl ding
the supremacy Of the laws as one of the
essential securities of civilization; and
there should be stringent aud resolute
dealing with all those who defy the su-
thority of the state. If it be known,
therefore, that there is an extent of power
aud influence, as well as fixedness
of purpose, on the part of any por-
ton of the community, representing any
special interest, which demonstrates that
the local judicial machinery issinadequate
to meet the emergency, which has erect
ed itself into an open defiance that strikes
at the very lifs of the state while defraud-
ing the revenues of these special funds,
and If existing laws do not possess ade-
quate punitive and remedial measures to
prevent the use or inclosure of these pub
lie lands of any class for exclusive oCcu-
psncy, unless under the rights acquired
as lease holder or purchaser, make
them stronger and more vigorous, to be
promptly executed by firm hand, and if
need be, with the forclble interposition
of the whole power of the state govern
ment.
While the executive should proceed to
the faithful and impartial execution of all
the laws Of the state, by the use of all the
means placed IN his power, and which
NAV be necessary to that end, there is no
real, true safety to our liberties and in
stituticnS but IN q strict adherence to the
letter and spirit OF our laws; and there is
no danger to our peace and property
that we cannot easily escspe, if |
We will conscentIously adhere to |
them. He should not, therefore, for
the want of proper legislation, be |
left with the alternative of either seeing
these special funds defrauded of their
Just revenues, or OF becoming the SOW
ereign judge of the emergency which |
would warrant him in marching an armed !
force into any community 10 strike down |
all civil law.
There is never, under any circumstance, !
any authority for him TO break his oath or
violate the law, or to take from the pee
pie, at his pleasure, that security Of law |
which is their birthright.
In monsrchies, an appeal to sword is
justly called the last reason OF kings.
Such an exigency is a sign, not only of
social decentralization, but of bad admin
istrstion. If the people of our state can
only be relied upon as obedient citizens
when confronted by the soldier with his
hand upon the sw0rd-bilt, we have, in
deed, fallen below the level Of contempt
from civilized people.
That no such exigency should arise, if
wise counsels prevail, is apparent to any
one who is acquainted with the people of
Texas. We cain to be law-sbiding citi-
ems, and this claim is borne out by our
whole career as state and republic, and
t may be set down as maxim, that if Sc
'ious social disturbances should ever
rise with our people resulting in g de-